Calling God to Action (Daily Portion 10426)

Content Author:

Reagan, David

Scripture Passage:

Psalm 83:1-18

This psalm is a call to action. It calls on God to take vengeance on the enemies of God’s people. God has been silent while His enemies have lifted up their head and have joined forces against Him. The psalmist cries out for God to return evil on their heads that men may know that Jehovah is the Most High God.

What Does It Say?

They that _______ thee have lifted up the head.

They have ____________ together with one _________; they are ______________ against thee.

Do unto them as unto the ______________.

They have said, Let us take to ourselves the _________ of God in _____________.

Persecute them with thy ________, and make them afraid with thy __________.

What Does It Mean?

This psalm opens with a cry for God to keep not silence, to hold not His peace, and to not be still (Psalm 83:1Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.
See All...). What is this talking about? Compare with Psalm 50:3Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
See All... and Psalm 109:1-2[1] Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
[2] For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
See All.... Explain Isaiah 42:13-14[13] The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.
[14] I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.
See All....

Psalm 83:8Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
See All... mentions “the children of Lot.” Who is this referring to? For the Bible answer, see Genesis 19:30-38[30] And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.
[31] And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:
[32] Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
[33] And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
[34] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
[35] And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
[36] Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.
[37] And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
[38] And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
See All....

The psalmist wants God to take vengeance so that “men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth” (Psalm 83:18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
See All...). What do you think is meant by this verse?

What Does It Mean to Me?

According to the psalmist, the enemies of God have consulted against His “hidden ones” (Psalm 83:3They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
See All...). Who are the hidden ones and what is the significance of their being hidden? Compare this verse with the following: Psalm 27:5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
See All...; Psalm 31:20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
See All...; Psalm 91:1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
See All...; Colossians 3:3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
See All....

The psalmist prayed, “Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD” (Psalm 83:16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
See All...). What was he praying for? How does being filled with shame cause someone to seek the Lord’s name? What situations in your life or in the lives of others illustrate this verse?